A devastating fire swept through a densely packed cluster of shanties in southwest Delhi's Kapashera area in the early hours of Thursday, completely destroying dozens of makeshift homes and triggering a massive evacuation effort.
Rapid Spread and Large-Scale Response
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received an emergency call about the blaze at approximately 4.11 am. Responding swiftly, the department deployed a massive force to the scene. 25 to 30 fire tenders and nearly 120 firefighters were rushed to Kapashera to battle the flames.
Officials stated the fire originated in shanties occupied by scrap dealers. The area was storing large quantities of highly combustible materials, including metal sheets, tins, clothes, plastic, and other scrap. This, combined with the settlement's dense layout, caused the fire to spread with alarming speed across an area spanning nearly 500 metres.
Risky Operation and Precautionary Evacuations
The firefighting operation was fraught with danger. "The operation was risky because of the tightly packed shanties and piled-up scrap, with the added danger of cylinder blasts," a senior DFS officer explained. The risk materialized when a small LPG cylinder exploded during the efforts, briefly endangering personnel and forcing teams to reposition for safety.
As the inferno threatened adjacent residential slum colonies, firefighters carried out precautionary evacuations. In total, the blaze completely gutted around 50 shanties, displacing nearly 100 residents who had to move to a nearby open space. Another 150 to 200 people from neighbouring areas were evacuated as a safety measure. Authorities also suspended the power supply in the vicinity to prevent electrocution and further escalation of the incident.
Aftermath and Ongoing Inquiry
After several hours of intense effort, firefighters managed to bring the fierce blaze under control. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident, a significant relief given the scale of the fire. Officers confirmed that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined and a formal inquiry has been initiated to investigate the origins of the disaster. The incident has highlighted the severe fire risks associated with unregulated settlements storing flammable materials.
